KARACHI: A local religious scholar shot dead in village Flati in district Jhelum Valley, Azad Kashmir, police said on Monday.

According to details, Hafiz Qari Sajid Hussain Awan, who was founder of Mualmin Quran Mustaqli Tehreek, AJK, was shot at by unknown persons in village Flati, Hattian Bala.

He was going home after leading taravih prayers Sunday night when he came under attack. He was brought to District Headquarters Hospital where he succumbed to his bullet wounds. According to City Hattian Bala SHO Liaquat Hameed, the Qari was hit by a bullet fired from either a 9MM pistol or 30 Bore pistol.

Police will hand over his body to the heirs after completion of his post mortem at the hospital. The SHO said that he was present at the crime scene along with other police officials and they were trying to find out the motive of his killing. It bears mentioning here that slain Qari Awan was actively involved in the promotion of Mualmin Quran Mustaqli Tehreek in the area.